I'm from New Mexico. My taste buds are paved with green chile, tortillas and salsa. Sometimes I crave things that aren't Mexican-food related. When I do, I lean toward barbecue.

At Rib Town, 939 N. Main, you get all of the basics for excellent barbecue. This was our first stop at this little place and my husband and I didn't really know what to expect. We noticed a few things right away. First of all, it wasn't super busy, which I like to think is a good thing. We were able to step right up to the counter and place our order. The walls were covered in what I would describe as yearbook inscriptions.

Patrons wrote things from "(So-and-so) was here!" to "Best BBQ in town!" There were more thoughtful writings on the wall, too. One person wrote, "Best BBQ in Las Cruces! Even better than any BBQ I had in the 23 years I lived in Seattle. I take it back, the best in all of Washtington state!" That's a pretty big compliment, right?

Reading the walls kept us occupied as we waited for our food. I realize now, after reading many recommendations, that we probably should have sampled the mac-n-cheese. Instead, we got corn slaw. Our sandwiches arrived in about 10 minutes.

I ordered the brisket and my husband got pulled pork. The sandwiches (no sides or drink included) were $6.95 each.

There is something sort of miraculous about the sandwiches at Rib Town. If nothing else, you will be impressed by their size. The sandwich, all by its lonesome, took up the entire plate.

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Massive. Important to note: the buns are fresh — not the cheap eight-in-a-bag type.

As my husband began his attack on the sandwich, he noticed one design flaw. While the bun was pretty to look at and tasty to nibble on, it's structural integrity was a little lackluster. The bun totally fell apart. My husband's hands were covered in sauce. I was much smarter and ate mine with a fork.

Don't let the bun situation deter you, though. We both really enjoyed our sandwiches and decided that the brisket was a better choice even though the pulled pork was incredibly tender. Another excellent thing is that there is plenty of sauce. It lacked a little spice for my personal taste, but it was good. I'm biased on all condiments as a native New Mexican. I always assume that they need to be spicy.

As for the corn slaw, which is really just regular cole slaw with corn kernels added, it was our only complaint. I love cole slaw and we always get it whenever a place offers it. But I'm very particular about the dressing. If it's too mayonnaisy, I'm out. Coleslaw dressing needs to be creamy and tart and a little sweet and spicy. All at the same time. This slaw seemed to be adorned only in mayo. I did like the added crunch value of the corn kernels. Nice touch, Rib Town. All large sides are $3.50.

At Rib Town, the menu offers much more than sandwiches. You also have a choice of ribs, smoked sausage or even a turkey leg. If you're feeding a large crowd, Rib Town sells meats by the pound. Brisket, pulled pork and smoked sausage are $10.89 per pound. Pork ribs will bump your bill up to $11.99 a pound.

I will definitely make another trip to Rib Town in the future. I'll probably try ribs next time and I'll most certainly be getting the mac-n-cheese. It was a pleasant little place with a very small-town vibe, which I really appreciate. The service was good and the place was clean. You'll be able to enjoy reasonably priced BBQ with a lot of fun things on the wall to keep you busy while you wipe your hands free of sauce.

Christa Clouse writes restaurant reviews for Pulse.She may be reached at christaclouse@yahoo.com.

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